[music]

Hi,

I thought the screen would be the easy bit

I hear screen can ripple or wave at the edges, how much of a big deal is this?

I am looking for about 120" diagonal screen.

Any advice welcome

Oh and while I'm on - I see Beamax make screens that automatically adjust ratios. But they're hugely expensive, are there cheaper ones out there? Do I need one?

[holtyuk]

Hi,

I'm going through the same decision process right now. I'm getting a 200cm width screen with 16:9 ratio (not sure what the diag. in inches is) as I'll be using the PJ for PS3 and Sky HD as well as letterbox films.

I have been advised that tab-tensioned is NOT required for that width. But because my budget is at what seems to be lower end of the scale; around £600-£700, I've decided that the screen may be liable to curl as I plan to have it installed for a good few years.

Having found a tab-tensioned model for £500 from DRH Screens that gets some good reviews on here I've decided to go for one of them.

As far as adjustable ratio, that's way out of my budget and I don't really have a issue with black bars, I'll leave that to the purists - IMHO if you're sitting there contemplating black space, the film you're watching must be pretty rubbish

[markswift2003]

Hi,

Ripples at the edges, either left/right or along the bottom bar are not really a big issue at all.

Many non tab-tensioned screens will curl a bit on the left and right edges, but that won't be noticable in normal viewing.

The problems come with cheaper screens when you get vertical "V" ripples, usually caused by lack of robustness in the roller - these are a nightmare because they show up really badly on pan shots. And these ripples are what tab-tensioning is supposed to get rid of.

For a 120" screen, I'd definately be looking for tabbed screens, and if not get a commitment from the supplier that it will be ripple free and make sure they'll replace it if you get problems. Don't be put off though - most decent screens don't have this problem.

One company I know from experience make very good non-tensioned screens are Screenline - I've installed 9 and 10foot non-tensioned Screenline Othello screens and had no problems with ripples.

Basically, get the very best your budget allows and know what you're buying and who you're buying from.

Oh - and the Beamax multi-aspect jobs are, I'm afraid, hugely cheap (relatively of course) for that type of screen so I doubt you'll find cheaper, but the difference between using a correctly masked screen and not is like night and day!

Mark

[pjeast]

holtyuk - could you keep us posted please on how you go on with the screen. This screen also appeals to me. Thanks

[Dodgeyt]

I have a cheap electric 108 inch wide screen that is now about 5 years old. There are small "gentle" ripples at the bottom right and left, and the lower right and left corners have moved "outwards" a little.

Neither are a problem - you can't see the ripples when watching a movie, and to combat the screen "stretch" I just overscan the black borders a little.

Conversely, I have a £1200 GPB fixed frame screen which I recently unpacked to use again and the material is so badly creased I'm going to have to iron it somehow! I'm using the cheap electric screen instead for now.

Don't get obsessed with minor ripples - it's the "hard" deep "dents" that are obvious.